Everyone now knows their actions have an effect on the environment, and while it may seem overwhelming or impossible to make a positive difference, there are small changes you can make in your everyday life to do your part. Excessive waste and consumption are practically expected in today’s society, but you can shrink your environmental footprint by trying out these tips.

Reuse and Recycle

One simple change you can make to reduce your waste is to use reusable items that replace plastics you would typically throw away, such as water bottles, grocery and sandwich bags and tableware. Many single-use items can be replaced or just aren’t necessary to purchase. Additionally, before you throw anything away, think about refurbishing or recycling it. For example, a broken television could be sent in for television refurbishing Dover DE to get more use out of it, and glass jars could be repurposed as storage containers or decorative items.

Shop Wisely

Much of everyone’s waste consists of paper and plastic packaging, and there are ways to cut down on this as well. When shopping for groceries, try to buy whole, uncut fruits and vegetables instead of precut produce in plastic containers. Moreover, buying your food in bulk or buying from a farmer’s market involves less use of packaging as well. When shopping for clothes, décor, furniture, and many other items, buying secondhand is another great way to reuse and reduce waste.

Take a Minimalistic Approach

Reducing your consumption and waste means that you need to think more minimally about your wants and needs and perhaps change your attitude and lifestyle. For example, processed junk food comes with a lot of packaging compared to healthier alternatives. Another example concerns fast fashion and continuously buying new clothes to keep up with trends. Many people simply buy a lot of things they don’t need, and the eventual resulting waste can have a compounded effect on the environment.

Overconsumption and excessive waste have unfortunately become the norm, but you can learn to adjust your habits. Even small changes add up to a large influence.